Belt-fastening machines



Get. 13, 1959 Filed Sept. 29, 1958 J. J. POTTER 2 ,908,009

BELT-FASTENING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet l I wil 54 i a 6 7 E L 15 55 Q IW A Home y Oct. 13, 1959 J. J. POTTER 2,908,009

- BELT-FASTENING MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ Invlor 62., 25- QMLQ/MM WC Attorney Oct. 13, 1959 J. J. POTTERBELT-FASTENING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. '29, 1958 UnitedStates Patent O 2,908,000 Patented Oct. 13, 1959.

BELT-FASTENm G MACHINES John J. Potter, Sheffield, England, assignor toHayden- Nilos Limited, Sheifield, England Application September 29,1958, Serial No. 764,158

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 15, 1958 4 Claims.(Cl. 1-49.4)

This invention relates to belt-fastening machine of the type in which ajaw unit is movable progressively across the end of conveyor or drivingbelt to insert and clinch into the belt the pointed bent ends of hookspositioned in a row in a comb-bar located along the end of the belt,leaving the bases of the hooks projecting at the end as a row of loopsto be linked to a similar row in another belt end by the insertion offlexible hinge.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine that willsatisfactorily and expeditiously insert double hooks of which one limbof each is connected to the other to form a bridge over which thepointed bent ends of the other limbs of each are turned afterpenetration of the belt. This double type of hook has the merit of onlyneeding two points to be formed on it, so that it can, in a preferredform, be very easily made from a length of wire pointed at both ends andbent to form two open hooks connected by an integral bridge, each hookhaving a single pointed bent end. It also has the advantage that theturning of the points over the bridge interposes the metal of the bridgeas a resistance to lifting of the points out of the belt, whichresistance is particularly effective if the points emerge from the beltinside the bridge and are then turned over to the outside of it.

In contradistinction to single hooks, which require each pointed lengthto be closed through similar angles to bring the points of each to andthrough the belt from opposite sides, it is only the two pointed lengthsof a double hook that require to be closed through any considerableangle to effect pentration of the belt, but great care is necessary toposition the open hook accurately with respect to the belt end and toensure that the points are in correct relation to the bridge to emergefrom the belt in position to be turned over the bridge.

According to the present invention, a belt-fastening machine for theinsertion of double hooks as above defined comprises a jaw unit with twojaws and a comb-bar, means to move the jaw unit progressively along thecomb-bar with the latter disposed transversely to the jaws of the unitand with the jaws embracing the comb-bar to engage respectively whenclosed the lengths with the pointed bent ends and the bridged lengths ofeach double hook in turn of a row of hooks positioned in the comb-bar, afixed foot positioned to bear on the outer side of the hook lengthsleading to the bridge, where those lengths emerge from the comb-bar, onejaw being movable to bear on those lengths beyond the foot, with dierecesses for turning over the bridge the pointed ends of the hook, andthe other jaw being movable to bear on the outer side of the lengths ofthe hook ending in the points, and means for closing the jaws on to thehooks after a belt end has been presented to the jaw unit and comb-bar.The foot supports the bridge portion of the double hook against one sideof the belt while one jaw forces the pointed lengths of the hook throughthe belt until the bridge portion of the hook is also supported by theother jaw. The bridge is thus held in correct position to re ceive thehook points, first by the foot and then by the other jaw. Although onejaw meets the pointed lengths before the other jaw meets the bridgeportion, it is convenient for the jaws to make equal closing movements,and they may indeed be operated in identical manner by common means,hand or mechanical, e.g. oppositely movable lever-handles.

Preferably, the inner side of the hook lengths leading to the bridgehave secured across them a wire, which is a longitudinal wire of acomplete comb of hooks, and the slotted face of the comb-bar, throughwhich the two bases of each double hook are inserted, may be cut back toform a lengthwise lipped recess in which this wire fits. This may beused to ensure that the hooks are not inverted in being inserted intothe comb-bar, because the longitudinal wire of the inverted comb findsno recess in which to fit, and the bases of the hooks could not thenpenetrate the bar slots sufficiently to receive a securing rod insertedlengthwise inside the comb-bar. With the comb correctly applied, thisrod slides easily through the bases.

The jaw to engage the bridge portions of the hooks is preferably thelower jaw, the fixed foot then projecting below the level at which thebelt end is inserted. To accommodate belts of different thicknesses, theupper jaw may be adjustable for height in its jaw lever, e.g., by meansof a screw with a knob.

This invention will now be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one form ofmachine for inserting a row of double hooks;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a part-sectional side elevation of the jaw unit of themachine of Figures 1 and 2, to a larger scale, the jaws being open;

Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows the jaws closed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end elevation Viewed in the direction of thearrow A in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a short row of double hooks;

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and side elevation of the jawunit of another form of machine; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged part-sectional view of the upper end of Figure2, showing the jaws open about a comb-bar inserted in the jaw unit.

In Figures 1 and 2, side frames are formed largely of metal tube,providing upper and lower rails =1, 2, connected by a curved rear end 3,the forward ends 4 of the lower rails 2 curving upwardly, so that thelower rails form skids for easy movement of the machine. Up-

' right plates 6, 7 are welded between the rails *1, 2. The

rear ends 3 are connected by welding to a tubular rear tie 8, and thefront ends of the rails 1 are connected by welding to a front tie 9, thecomplete frame being light in weight, yet robust. The front curved ends4 of the lower rails 2 are connected by a T-section 10 (Figure 2)forming a lower fixed clamping bar. A movable upper clamping bar 11 ofinverted channel section, with chamfered edges 12, is carried betweenstandards 13 on the rails 1, with levers 14 (Figure l) to press the bar1'-1 by means of springs 15 on to a belt 16 (Figures 3 and 4) placed onthe bar 10 with the line of its edge partly entering notches "17 in theplates 7.

A rack bar 18 extends between the plates 6 and a comb-bar 19 between theplates 7, the two bars serving as transverse guides for a jaw unit 20.Side plates 21, 22 of the jaw unit (Figures 2, 4, 7, and 8) slide on therack bar 1 8 at the rear end of the unit 20 and partly embrace thecomb-bar 19 at the front end. On a transverse pivot 23 are mounted upperand lower jaw levers 3 24, 25, the former having a cheek 26 adjustableby a screw '27 with a knurled head 28 in accordance with the thicknessof the belt 16, while the latter has a fixed cheek 29. The cheeks 26, 29may, however, be replaceable in accordance with the size and type ofdouble hooks 30.

The jaw levers 24, 25 are connected by toggle links 31 to a slider 32movable along slots 33 in the side plates 21, '22, and the slider 32 isconnected by upper and lower curved links 34, 35 to short lever arms 36,37 respectively, these arms being operated by tubular lever handles 38,39, movable in opposite directions, and detachable from stubs 40, 41,but anchored by chains 42, so that they may be folded flat for transportor storage, as shown in Figure l.

The cheek ends of the jaw levers 24, 25, emerge from one end of a splitcasing 43, which otherwise encloses the jaw-operating mechanism. Theslider 32 has a projection '44 lying within a side casing 45, from whichprojects a pawl 46 to engage the rack bar '18 at each complete operationof the levers 24, 25 to transverse the jaw unit 20 by the space of onetooth 47.

When the levers 24, 25 are open (Figure 3), the upper check 26 liesclear of the pointed ends 48 of the row of double books 30 located inslots 49 along the front of the tubular comb-bar 19. The lengths 50leading to the bridge 51 of each double hook (Figure 6) rest on a fixedfoot :72 supported at the front of the comb-bar 19 by brackets 53extending from the lower parts of the side plates 21, 22 (Figures 3 andThe top face of the foot 52 supports the hook lengths 50 horizontallyjust below the belt 16, the end of which abuts the flat face 54 of thecombbar '19, which face is cut back to form a lip 55. The lip '55provides a recess into which fits a wire 56 welded across the hooklengths 5%. The wire 56 forms all the hooks 30 into a row of any desiredlength, and also ensures that the hooks can only be applied to thecombbar 19 with the pointed ends 48 uppermost, because only when thewire 56 fits against the lip 55 can the base loops 57 extendsufficiently inside the comb-bar 19 for a securing rod 58 to be slidinto the loops.

The bottom cheek 29 lies well below the belt 16 when the jaw levers 24,25 are open (Figure 3), and a gap 59 behind the cheek surrounds the foot52 when the levers 24, 25 are closed (Figure 4).

With the hooks 30 located by the comb-bar 19 and with their lengths 5i?supported by the foot 52, closing of the jaw levers 24, 25 causes theupper check 26 to engage the pointed ends 43 of one double hook 30 andto force the two points through the belt 16. Because of the supportprovided by the foot 52, the bridge 57 of that double hook is correctlypositioned for the points to emerge inside it as they penetrate thebelt. At this time, the lower cheek 29 has made an idle movement belowthe belt v16, but now comes into contact with the lengths -50, toprovide support beyond the foot 52 and to position recesses 60 oppositethe emerging points 48. The recesses turn these points 48 outwardlyunder the bridge 51, the underside of which has two indentations toreceive the points. Complete closing of the. cheeks 26, 29 appliesconsiderable pressure to the inserted hooks, as may be adjustedappropriately to the thickness of the belt 16 by the screw 27 of theupper check 26.

As shown by Figure 5, the two recesses 60 in the lower cheek 29 lie toone side of the face 62 of the check. The other side of that faceapplies renewed pressure to the inserted hooks 30 on the next closing ofthe jaw levers '24, 25, while the next double hook is being inserted.The face 62 of the cheek 29 and the face 63 of the cheek 26 areserrated, which assists in keeping the hooks in line during closing ofthe hooks. As shown by Figures 1, 2, and 5, the comb-bar 19 is cut awayat 64 to allow the base loops 57 of hooks inserted in the belt 16 topass when a beit requiring more hooks 30 than the slots 49 of thecomb-bar 19 can accommodate is moved transversely of the machine. Forthe same reason, the

4 plates 7 have the notches 17 to provide for passage of the end of thebelt 16 into and out of the machine.

In Figures 7, 8, and 9, a jaw unit 65 having jaws 66, 67 operated bylever handles 68 has a recess 69 into which a separate comb-bar 7 0(Figure 9) can be slidably inserted, to position hooks '30 for receptionby a belt 16 to which the comb-bar 70 is temporarily clamped. A fixedfoot 71 lies inside the jaw 67 to position the hooks 30 while the jaw 66forces the pointed ends through the belt, after which the jaw 67 causesthe pointed ends to be turned over the bridge of each hook, as before,The jaw unit carries a pawl 72 (Figure 7) to engage teeth 73 (Figure 9)on the comb-bar 76 to traverse the jawunit after each operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a beltfastening machine of the kind comprising a jaw unit with twojaws similarly movable in opposite directions, means to move the jawunit progressively along a comb-bar having a slotted face for theinsertion of the bases of hooks to be inserted into a belt, with thecomb-bar disposed transversely to the jaws and with the jaws embracingthe comb-bar to engage when closed the hooks positioned in the comb-bar,and means for closing the jaws simultaneously after a belt end has beenpresented to the comb-bar, the provision of a fixed foot carried by thejaw .unit to bear on the outer side of the bridged lengths of a doublehook having lengths with pointed bent ends and lengths connected by abridge over which the pointed ends are turned after penetration of abelt, with the foot mounted to bear on these bridged lengths where thelatter emerge from the comb-bar and to position them with their innerside extending at right-angles to the slotted face of the combbar, onejaw being movable to bear on the outer side of the lengths of the hookending in points, and the other jaw being movable to bear on the bridgedlengths beyond the foot, with die surfaces on that other jaw for turningover the bridge the pointed ends of the book.

2. In a belt-fastening machine of the kind comprising a jaw unit withtwo jaws similarly movable in opposite directions, means to move the jawunit progressively along a comb-bar having a slotted face for theinsertion of the bases of hooks to be inserted into a belt, with thecombbar disposed transversely to the jaws and with the jaws embracingthe comb-bar, to engage when closed the hook positioned in the comb-barand means for closing the jaws simultaneously after a belt end has beenpresented to the comb-bar, the provision of a fixed foot carried by thejaw unit to bear on the outer side of the bridged lengths of a doublehook having lengths with pointed bent ends and lengths connected by abridge over which the pointed ends are turned after penetration of abelt, with the foot mounted to bear on these bridged lengths where thelatter emerge from the comb-bar and to position them with their innerside extending at right-angles to the slotted face of the comb-bar, andthe provision of a lengthwise lipped recess in the slotted face of thecombbar to receive a wire connected across the bridged lengths of anumber of double hooks, one jaw being movable to bear on the outer sideof the lengths of the hook ending in points, and the other jaw beingmovable to bear on the bridged lengths beyond the foot, with diesurfaces on that other jaw for turning over the bridge the pointed endsof the hook.

3. In a belt-fastening machine of the kind comprising a jaw unit withtwo side plates, two jaws similarly movable in opposite directions,between and projecting beyond the ends of the side plates, means to movethe jaw unit progressively along a comb-bar having a slotted face forthe insertion of the bases of hooks to be inserted into a belt, with thecomb-bar disposed transversely to the jaws and with the jaws embracingthe comb-bar to engage when closed the hooks positioned in the comb-bar,and

means for closing the jaws simultaneously after a belt end has beenpresented to the comb-bar, the provision of two brackets projecting fromthe ends of the side plates, and a fixed foot between the brackets tolie between those ends and one of the jaws, to bear on the outer side ofthe bridged lengths of a double hook having lengths with pointed bentends and lengths connected by a bridge over which the pointed ends areturned after penetration of a belt, with the foot mounted to bear onthese bridged lengths where the latter emerge from the comb-bar and toposition them with their inner side extending at rightangles to theslotted face of the comb-bar, one jaw being movable to first engage thehooks by the pointed lengths to cause them to penetrate the belt whilethe bridged lengths are supported by the fixed foot, and the other jawhaving die recesses and being movable to bring the latter intoengagement with the emerging points beyond the fixed foot to turn thepoints over the bridge.

4. In a belt-fastening machine of the kind comprising a jaw unit withtwo jaws similarly movable in opposite directions, means to move the jawunit progressively along a comb-bar having a slotted face for theinsertion of the bases of hooks to be inserted into a belt, with thecombbar disposed transversely to the jaws and with the jaws embracingthe comb-bar to engage when closed the hooks 6 positioned in thecomb-bar, and means for closing the jaws simultaneously after a belt endhas been presented to the comb-bar, the provision of a fixed footcarried by the jaw unit to bear on the outer side of the bridged lengthsof a double hook having lengths with pointed 'the outer side of thelengths of the hook ending in points to enable the machine to operate onbelts of different thickness, the other jaw being movable to bear on thebridged lengths beyond the foot, with die surfaces on that other jaw forturning over the bridge the pointed ends of the hook.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,255,855

Matthei Sept. 16, 1941

